Scrapbooking Page Ideas

Scrapbooking Page Ideas
By: Liz Holloway and Cijaye DePradine

There are so many things to consider when starting your first scrapbook. Aside from knowing what album type you are using, you also want to know what photo's will tell the story; you also want to consider the colors, layout, and journal entry you will need.

Here are a few secrets to make the choices a little easier:

Colors: choosing a background page can be a challenge.

Stay away from white backgrounds and instead, try to use color-on-color.

Color-on-color adds dimension without being bold. Too much white will compete with your focal point.

Selecting the right colors establishes the tone or the theme of your page.

It will reinforce the message you want to send.

When choosing your colors, pick only 2 to 4 colors for a page, one being a neutral color. If you use too many colors on a page, the page can look busy and disorganized.

Bright colors give you high-energy color, whereas, muted colors are low-energy.

The background page color can be inspired by colors in your photos or complimentary to them.

Consider the smallest hue (least amount of colors) for direction here.

Layout: This is one is fairly easy; all you need to do is find a template you like and use it. It is fast and easy, and it maps out your pages immediately without thinking.

But, if you want to get creative; flip that layout horizontally and vertically for differentiation. (ie: one layout, converted to 4 layouts).

And if you want to get even MORE creative - visualize or even sketch a variation of the layout you like so that you can truly make it your own!

Journaling: If you keep in mind that part of your layout should include a journal entry; you will be closer to completion before you even adhere your images.

Writing your journaling by hand gives your scrapbook pages a little more of a personal feel and makes the page more precious.

It also is a record of your handwriting for future generations to see.

You would be surprised at how handwriting styles change over the years and from country-to-country.

Just be sure to use fade resistant waterproof markers whenever you commit your writing to page.

HINT: If you don't like your handwriting, don't worry. Journaling can be done in many ways.

With a computer and printer, you need only type up your journaling in a standard word processor.

But again, if you want to get really creative, using a computer will allow you to choose some of today's hottest fonts (a lot of which can be downloaded for free).

NOTE: Use laser-printer rather than ink-jet printer. The reason being is that ink-jet printer may fade, bleed and run overtime if it is exposed to moisture. Laser-printer fuses the ink and is more permanent.

Want more?

Happy Scrapbooking!